New Balance 880 v8

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4.9 / 5 based on 28 ratings

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Summary

We spent 8.3 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:

7
reasons to buy

Those who have tested the New Balance 880 v8 felt that it accommodates their sizing preferences.

Several people noted that there was sufficient room in the forefoot for natural toe-splay.

The underfoot cushioning caused a smooth yet snappy transition through the gait cycle, some runners commented.

The midsole alleviated any muscle strain during the run, according to a reviewer.

Runners were generally appreciative of this model’s eye-catching color options.

This running shoe was deemed worthy of its price because it had high-quality materials.

People liked that a wide-width variant was available from the get-go.

2
reasons not to buy

The New Balance 880 v8 was half-a-size smaller than the usual, a few testers complained.

The rectangular lace-holes apparently ruined the structure of laces that go through them, according to a few consumers.

Bottom line

People were mostly happy with the New Balance 880 v8. They liked this road shoe’s wide toe-box design, its comfortable underfoot cushioning, and the appealing colorways. But some weren’t as enthusiastic about it because they claimed that it was half-a-size too small. Overall, this neutral pronator’s companion is considered to be a welcome addition to New Balance’s stable of athletic footwear.

Summary

We spent 8.3 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:

7
reasons to buy

Those who have tested the New Balance 880 v8 felt that it accommodates their sizing preferences.

Several people noted that there was sufficient room in the forefoot for natural toe-splay.

The underfoot cushioning caused a smooth yet snappy transition through the gait cycle, some runners commented.

The midsole alleviated any muscle strain during the run, according to a reviewer.

Runners were generally appreciative of this model’s eye-catching color options.

This running shoe was deemed worthy of its price because it had high-quality materials.

People liked that a wide-width variant was available from the get-go.

2
reasons not to buy

The New Balance 880 v8 was half-a-size smaller than the usual, a few testers complained.

The rectangular lace-holes apparently ruined the structure of laces that go through them, according to a few consumers.

Bottom line

People were mostly happy with the New Balance 880 v8. They liked this road shoe’s wide toe-box design, its comfortable underfoot cushioning, and the appealing colorways. But some weren’t as enthusiastic about it because they claimed that it was half-a-size too small. Overall, this neutral pronator’s companion is considered to be a welcome addition to New Balance’s stable of athletic footwear.

New Balance 880 v8: Comfortable, durable, and versatile as can be

The New Balance 880 v8 features a comfortable seamless mesh upper along with Trufuse cushioning.

Trufuse is composed of 2 different densities of foam, providing both comfort and responsiveness in one shoe. The blown rubber outsole allows for great traction and the synthetic toe guard prevents injuries.

This shoe is designed for longer runs because of its great cushioning, but many find it suitable for any distance due to its light weight and responsiveness. I find this shoe has everything it needs to serve its required purpose.

One flaw I found, however, is that the tongue is almost too short for the last eyelet to be laced up. This could possibly be an issue if the wearer experiences heel slippage.

Fit

The 880 v8 has a fairly wide toe box that provides ample room for the forefoot.

It comes in widths ranging from D (standard) to 4E (extra wide). A padded heel helps locks the foot in place and also feels very comfortable.

The 880 v8 in my true size fits me perfectly and was snug without feeling constricting. I did not have to size up to a 2E width like I do in some New Balance models.

Much like previous years’ models, the 880 v8 maintains a classic fit that all runners should enjoy.

Value

This shoe occupies the middle-upper price range for running shoes, sitting at $160 CAD. The 880 v8 is a durable shoe that is built to go the distance.

The outsole keeps its tread very well and the midsole retains its bounciness and cushioning even after many wears. Its versatility over different distances should also be considered. $160 is a fair price to pay for a Swiss Army knife of a shoe.

Performance

Great right out of the box: The 880 v8 felt very comfortable right out of the box and required no break-in period. My first run with it was a 10km slower paced run, and it felt both responsive and cushioned at the same time.

The Trufuse cushioning system it incorporates provides this one-two punch of shock absorption and springiness. This made for a very enjoyable first run, and I did not notice any issues.

Upon trying this shoe out, I felt that I could use them for both speed workouts and longer runs. The 880 v8’s versatility stood out to me and it has become a staple shoe in my rotation since.

A small bump in the road:The 880 v8 boasts a noticeably good outsole tread. It grips extremely well on all kinds of surfaces which I noticed while running in the rain at one point. I didn’t notice anything wrong with the shoe until I used them for a fast-paced tempo run.

The tongue of the shoe is super short; not even long enough to reach the last eyelet if one doesn’t strain to pull it up. As a result, lacing up the last eyelet causes the shoelaces to rub against the skin. I found this very irritating and actually got a bit of a burn because of the friction.

I opted to just leave the last eyelet undone to save myself from any further pain. Since I have thin heels/ankles, I felt some slippage in the heel portion of the shoe. I wasn’t able to lace the shoes up completely, so my foot constantly felt like slipping out when I upped my pace. This issue was not a deal-breaker, but it was certainly annoying to experience.

Final Reflection: The 880 v8 performed very well in a variety of circumstances and on both wet and dry surfaces. The Trufuse cushioning was both responsive and comfortable, lending to the shoe's versatility. For future models, I would suggest making the tongue longer in order to accommodate people with narrower ankles.

This would prevent unnecessary rubbing, while not negatively affecting the shoe performance wise or cosmetically. Other than that issue, the 880 v8 performs very similarly to past year models and is a great everyday running shoe.

Overall

The New Balance 880 v8 is a great shoe that fits comfortably and accommodates people with wide feet very well.

The Trufuse midsole cushions the foot and provides responsiveness that allows this shoe to be worn for fast workouts along with its intended long runs. The tongue could be longer to provide a more secure fit, so hopefully, that is fixed in the next version.

This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.

Updates to New Balance 880 v8

The New Balance 880 v8 is a running shoe that’s designed for those who have neutral pronation. The façade is mostly similar to its immediate predecessor, the 880 v7, but with a reconfigured overlay placement.

Underfoot cushioning is handled by the TRUFUSE foam, which runs the entire length of this product. The T-Beam is a flexible shank that bolsters the integrity of the platform. It also makes sure to support the tendons and muscles of the foot-pad.

Durable rubber covers the foam midsole, protecting it from wear and tear. It also doles out traction for responsible surface control.

New Balance 880 v8 size and fit

The New Balance 880 v8 was designed to be true to size, so its job is to welcome the natural preferences of runners when it comes to length. The available width profiles are D – Medium, 2E – Wide and 4E – Extra Wide for the men’s version. The women’s iteration features the AA – Narrow, B – Medium, D – Wide and E – Extra Wide options.

Outsole

The outsole unit of the New Balance 880 v8 features a rubber compound that’s designed to be durable. It aims to shield the rest of the platform from wear and tear. It is also responsible for surface traction. As a bonus, the rubber extends to the tip of the tip of the toe-box, acting as a bumper against abrasive surfaces. This material is also used in the NB 890 v6 running shoe.

Flex grooves in the forefoot allow the joints of the toes to bend naturally and surely, thus enabling the toe-off phase of the gait cycle to be more energized and driven.

The crash pad of the heel section has been decoupled to isolate impact shock during the landing phase.

Midsole

TRUFUSE is a full-length foam that carries the foot throughout the running session. It’s designed to offer agreeable cushioning, responsiveness, and dependable durability while also preserving the bendability of the platform.

Small cuts and indentations are fashioned on the sides of the midsole. These shallow incisions give a unique visual flair to the New Balance 880 v8, but they have a more significant purpose: they cause the foam to compress when weight is applied to it, then they expand when the same pressure is removed. That process creates springy takeoffs.

The T-Beam is a shank that made out of thermoplastic polyurethane. This layer acts as a foundation that keeps the foam midsole intact. It also alleviates potential discomfort or fatigue by mimicking the functionality of the tendons and muscles of the underfoot.

Upper

Serving as the primary cover system is engineered mesh. This cloth-like material has a soft and form-fitting configuration. It also has ventilation pores that accommodate the flow of air into the foot-chamber.

The 3D Resin screen print is a system of overlays that reinforce the structure of the New Balance 880 v8’s façade. These thin layers also help in keeping the foot in place and averting unintentional shoe-removals.

A no-sew material application aims to produce an in-shoe experience that is smooth and free of irritation. It even enables runners to wear this road shoe without socks.

The liberally padded tongue and collar cushion the upper sections of the runner’s foot. They also prevent in-shoe wobbling, particularly when tackling sharp turns and swerves.

The lacing system is comprised of semi-flat fabric shoelaces and inconspicuous eyelets. This configuration permits a secure yet customizable fit that’s handled traditionally. The padded shoe-tongue has two lace-loops to prevent unnecessary movement or tongue-deviation.